Diary of a Racketaholic

Okay, it's official. As of now I'm a Wilsonian. I'm hanging up my APDs. The PD can find another home. Just back from a session of drilling and practice, and, well, my mind's made up now. Time to focus exclusively on the J100. No more distractions and diversions. The J is a very interesting frame that, as others have noted, differs only slightly from the PD and APD, but it differs enough, and just plain suits me. Which brings me on to this...

Finally I am about to check out Pacific Gut/MSV, and, having decided at long last which frame I want to check it out in, I'm just wondering what tensions people would advise in my Juice 100? I obviously don't want a rocket launcher, and it's a powerful racket of course. For some kind of reference, I've lately been using TB/N.Vy (and liking it) at 50/54 lbs.

You must be super sensitive to rackets. Whenever I buy 3 sticks, I can't tell the difference between them.

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I am. SUPER super sensitive. It leads to mental issues. The frames I got from you -- with same overgrip, one's 12.0, the other 12.2. The 12.2 is my preferred one, actually seems to swing lighter than the 12.0 because a tad more HL.

Gadsy's TGK sure feels like it's been sprinkled w/ magic pixie dust because the feel is sublime. super smooth and buttery with just the right about of flex. and that was with a full bed of WC SS. my PS85 strung w/ VS gut/Alu Power delivered 80% of this sensation. i have not been able to achieve that magical feel in any other stick. even the PT630 doesn't come close.

Actually I have a MG Radical MP. in stock form, it doesn't feel anything like Gadsy's pro stock stick. doesn't have that plush, buttery smooth, solid feel at all. i CAP'd it and added some lead to the handle and in the butt cap. feels closer to the pro stock now, but maybe 70% there but still not the same.

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Yeah, I know it sounds like we're spouting fairy tales, but MD describes it accurately. There's a reason why I always think (and write) 'touched by God' when I hit with this thing.. Feel wise, it's simply sublime. And we have tried to get down to the bottom of the 'turn a MG Rad into the TGK' idea and... it's just not the same frame...Even at the same or similar weight (though the TGK is extended by .5 inch) - the frame feels different, and the ball reacts differently too. You'd have to feel the way this thing, well, feels. It's almost impossible to describe just how luscious and buttery it is. The guy I got it from, he had a bag full of pro stocks. I got to hit with his H22. THAT thing felt, to me, simply like a KBlade 98 with silicone in the handle and a little added weight to it (which there was - lead beneath bumper), but the 'feel' was essentially just like the KBlade with the added punch. This TGK feels totally different from any MG Rad I've tried (and I do like the MG Rad), and more heavenly than any Head stick I've ever hit with. It can't just be silicone and such. Layup has to be different. PP, one day I will come to Florida, we'll hit, and you will feel the light. This thing is just unreal in the feel department.

Well I hope you can find another because that is awesome. I did enjoy my foray into tgk land, but it was such a hassle to find a match that I tapped out.

I hope you get your hands on a new blade just for a fling.

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I hear you. Blade wise, Chris and Andy make the new Tour sound so goatish. I'd like to try it as I do love my Mids, closed patterns and Wilson handles. But will try and concentrate on the TGK in the coming weeks to see if it's actually The One.

Interesting idea. But one of the best things I love about the frame is that the extended length is there in the extra long handle, which makes two-handed backhands feel so so good. I'm clueless when it comes to grips and 'pallets' and such.. If this frame is extended with a Head grip/pallet on there now, could I get a Wilson pallet that's extra long as well, or am I getting a Wilson grip pallet (or that '82' Head Pallet that's like the more Wilson-like round shape) that would just leave a bit of the hairpin (I think that's what it's called) beneath exposed?

Just asking this for future reference because I know nothing about it, but the truth is, I'd be too afraid to mess with anything on this frame at the moment. Playing as is for the foreseeable future and will see where it takes me.

I hear you man..i just took advantage of the BFTW sale and grabbed some GR4s for $99 shipped. Just in time as i have worn down these babolats. I went a half size down as well.

May grab a black blade tomorrow. Will poast if so.

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Ooh yeah, grab, play and poast. Which one will you snatch -- 18/20, 16/19 or Tour? Guessing the 18/20 98 to compare with your current 98s.

I went in on Black Friday shoe goodness as well, snatched another pair of Vapor 9s for $84. Vapors have definitely become my favorite shoe, but man do they burn through fast. I may end up having to go with a Vapor-for-matches, GR4s-for-practice type of combo because GR4s, and just about any other shoe, lasts a lot longer than the Vapors, but the Vapors feel so nicely light and quick out there.

Well, I am curious re the new APD, no denying that, absolutely. But I'm even more curious actually re the Steam.

I doubt I'll be looking at them for a while though here in the UK. So, in the meantime, the Juice has kind of won me over. I just want to focus on this for a bit, check out a few different string jobs, tweak a few different mod set ups.

Gads,

I have a very similar POV to your good self re my TGK 238.5. Something about the lay up, the build quality, the string-bed feel, the performance, etc, does seem to elevate the frame and raise it above its retail YT PP brother.

That said, the 'normal' ones must be 80% of what the p/stocks are (though I do now wish the retail was a bit lighter.) There's no way I'd want to get into the costly scenario of trying to hunt down two, or ideally, 3 of these racs. There's the whole mega-hassle business of customization, continual prizing on and off off CAP grommets, messing around with glue and even hair-dryers (no thanks).

Side-note: I seem to have long forgotten something I've only just picked up on in the last 24 hours... my TGK was half an inch longer in length than the retail YT PP... (Er, I think this right???)... This fact alone throws up a few things for me. "CONTEMPLATES"

I'm lucky enough to play frequently and almost always on HC so I burn thru most shoes in three months or so.

I just messed around swinging them didn't get a chance to play.

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Hey PED,

Well, they say the first step is recognizing you have a problem, so congrats there my friend. To be honest though, I have known about this issue of yours for a little while now.

In fact, I can finally reveal to you that it was during the summer of 2010 that a concerned friend of yours sent me the below picture of himself after shortly opening your shoe cupboard. You may as well know, he was almost fatally asphyxiated and crushed in the avalanche.

Side-note: I seem to have long forgotten something I've only just picked up on in the last 24 hours... my TGK was half an inch longer in length than the retail YT PP... (Er, I think this right???)... This fact alone throws up a few things for me. "CONTEMPLATES"

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Dude, your comment got me thinking for a second about my own TGK's extended length and how I'd mentioned yesterday or the day before about how - while it's perfecto from the baseline - the one issue that crept up every now and then was getting jammed on shots inside the baseline and even sending some serves a tad long... Which had always been confusing to me since I'm used to the 7G and rarely ever feel I get jammed with it. So I thought, Hmm, went over to my bag, put my frames up beside each other and.. lo and behold, I realize that my tgk is actually about 27.75, not my 7G-like 27.5 like I'd thought. So, lightbulb.

Knowing this, I'm going to try to choke up a tad on some of those approach shots inside the baseline and on serve and see if it makes a difference for me there. If I can either adjust to this by wielding it full time, or make it work by choking up a tad on approaches (just hope this doesn't get too 'mental') then I'm good. If I can't make this work, then I may try to shorten this thing. Hmm.

Well, they say the first step is recognizing you have a problem, so congrats there my friend. To be honest though, I have known about this issue of yours for a little while now.

In fact, I can finally reveal to you that it was during the summer of 2010 that a concerned friend of yours sent me the below picture of himself after shortly opening your shoe cupboard. You may as well know, he was almost fatally asphyxiated and crushed in the avalanche.

May your addiction be quelled. Peace be unto you.

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Notice that's just my Nike closet, I have another one for my Adidas :twisted:

Interesting idea. But one of the best things I love about the frame is that the extended length is there in the extra long handle, which makes two-handed backhands feel so so good. I'm clueless when it comes to grips and 'pallets' and such.. If this frame is extended with a Head grip/pallet on there now, could I get a Wilson pallet that's extra long as well, or am I getting a Wilson grip pallet (or that '82' Head Pallet that's like the more Wilson-like round shape) that would just leave a bit of the hairpin (I think that's what it's called) beneath exposed?

Just asking this for future reference because I know nothing about it, but the truth is, I'd be too afraid to mess with anything on this frame at the moment. Playing as is for the foreseeable future and will see where it takes me.

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There are two current Head pallets that are available through retailers at the moment (and when I say 'available', I mean you have a chance of finding a proper outlet selling them, rather than having venture down some back alley).

TK82 is the regular Head grip shape. TK82S (that's the letter S, not a number 5) is the squarer one that you find on the Speed range. You can use either on your TGK. If you buy the pallets new, they are longer than a standard handle - you usually have to cut them down to fit. Be cautious buying second hand for your extended frame, as chances are the last bloke will have lopped off the end.

If you're curious as to what lurks under the pallet, there are a couple of pictures of a naked hairpin undergoing surgery on the first page of this very thread! :shock:

I hear you man..i just took advantage of the BFTW sale and grabbed some GR4s for $99 shipped. Just in time as i have worn down these babolats. I went a half size down as well.

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PP, did we discuss the fit of the Speed Solutions? I have a feeling it was... if so, could you compare the GR4s to them when you've played in them? I've also had the GR3, Gel Game 3 and GR2 if a wider comparison is relevant.

PP, did we discuss the fit of the Speed Solutions? I have a feeling it was... if so, could you compare the GR4s to them when you've played in them? I've also had the GR3, Gel Game 3 and GR2 if a wider comparison is relevant.

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Good question. The gr3s fit me true to size (i have a wider foot). The speed solutions hurt when i played tennis in them at first. It took weeks of break in by running or just wearing them around before they fit me, but now they fit rather well. If i get the gr4s i will post, but i am trying to go with vapor 9s as they are the best, and the sales were undeniably good yesterday.

Just had a hit with the good ol pro staff 6.0 95... God that thing is butter. It had BM@57lbs and I was playing like it was magic. Maybe I was wrong to go to a larger headsize. 93-95s seem to have everything i need (other then fitness and mental stability) to hit every shot in the world I want.

Okay, I may have lost a 4-0 lead in a dubs match to lose the next 6 games, but I blame fitness, mental stability, and the sun was that bright white light that blinds the world. That and I failed as a net man today.

Do they still sell the 95s? I dont think I want the BA's anymore. Nuuuu RHS strikes again!

Just had a hit with the good ol pro staff 6.0 95... God that thing is butter. It had BM@57lbs and I was playing like it was magic. Maybe I was wrong to go to a larger headsize. 93-95s seem to have everything i need (other then fitness and mental stability) to hit every shot in the world I want.

Okay, I may have lost a 4-0 lead in a dubs match to lose the next 6 games, but I blame fitness, mental stability, and the sun was that bright white light that blinds the world. That and I failed as a net man today.

Do they still sell the 95s? I dont think I want the BA's anymore. Nuuuu RHS strikes again!

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don't worry you'll be back as soon as the honeymoon period w/ the PS 6.0 95 is over. rackaholics can never be completely cured of this insideous disease. it's highly infectious and very contagious. :twisted:

^^
Speaking of which, my fellow RHs, we may have lost another sweet soul to the darkness of Cortex. Mad Dog's digging the new APD, hitting extremely well with it. I haven't been able to find the same groove myself, it's just not the right frame for my stroke, am still digging the closed patterns and especially the tgk. But I will say this APD seems better to me than the previous two I tried for sure. I think MD described it the other day as being a more 'refined' APD and I have to agree.

^^
Speaking of which, my fellow RHs, we may have lost another sweet soul to the darkness of Cortex. Mad Dog's digging the new APD, hitting extremely well with it. I haven't been able to find the same groove myself, it's just not the right frame for my stroke, am still digging the closed patterns and especially the tgk. But I will say this APD seems better to me than the previous two I tried for sure. I think MD described it the other day as being a more 'refined' APD and I have to agree.

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Great stuff, so, we have an RH convert already maybe?... but how about other diary holics?... post it up here guys!

yeah, i think i've spent more time with JGads' 2013 playtest APD than Gads himself. it's still got that signature "hollow, toylike" feel at contact that i'm not crazy about because i love racquets that offer great "feel", but i can't deny that i'm hitting really well w/ this stick. when Gads is hitting w/ any other stick, i do fine w/ my BC20, Black Ace 95, TT Rad OS, Yonex RDS001 MP, etc but once he switches to the TGK, it feels like he shrinks the court in length. groundstrokes off of the TGK come at me with more pace, the ball has more action. it kicks up and is on me before i'm set so i feel pressured. when the TGK is in play, Gadsy is dictating play. only with the APD GT do i feel like i'm on equal footing where i can turn defense to offense. when Gads pulls me wide, the APD is able to get defensive shots back deep enough with enough pace that it's harder to attack so i can reset the rally. and if i play aggressive 1st strike tennis, i can rip winners because the APD seems to have limitless power in reserve that i can dial up whenever needed. and the easy spin is at my fingertips allowing me to keep the ball in play. with my players sticks, i can hit the same shots, but i have to try harder so i make more UEs. i don't have to try to so hard to rip a winner w/ the APD. i just swing freely and the ball just zips off the stringbed. bh slices seemed to float on me on the 1st time, but i got it sorted out this time. i was having some trouble w/ the extra pop last time that was causing some of my shots to go long last time. i had less trouble this time.

the only thing that has me hestitating is that my shoulder and wrist are feeling sore now which could be due to playing too much w/ the stiff APD, or it could just be the result of playing 7 nights over the past 9 days. also JGads planted a poisonous seed in my mind mentioning how the TW playtesters seemed to like the APD GT+ version over the APD GT so now i'm conflicted enough that i may just need to demo the 2 sticks side by side so i can know for sure. :evil: damn that Gadsy! :lol:

Double it up and invite me to the DoubleAero test! (see how my evil works?)

Not much I can add to MD's very good above summation. My own hitting with the APD -- my trajectory is too loopy, can't seem to make the slices stay low and too many forehands spring off the bed and end up going just long instead of clipping the line... But I will say, from the other side of the net, in MD's hand, the APD does create a nasty nose-diving ball that can be so tough to handle when it's nailed just right, because as MD says, the power on tap is just so easy and huge.

Another finding of the last two nights, unrelated to racquets: it seems I need approximately two hours of warm-up hitting. After that, it's Go Time.

Double it up and invite me to the DoubleAero test! (see how my evil works?)

Not much I can add to MD's very good above summation. My own hitting with the APD -- my trajectory is too loopy, can't seem to make the slices stay low and too many forehands spring off the bed and end up going just long instead of clipping the line... But I will say, from the other side of the net, in MD's hand, the APD does create a nasty nose-diving ball that can be so tough to handle when it's nailed just right, because as MD says, the power on tap is just so easy and huge.

Another finding of the last two nights, unrelated to racquets: it seems I need approximately two hours of warm-up hitting. After that, it's Go Time.

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gadsy has a diesel motor that just takes some time to warm up and get going! :lol:

So much of what you day MD is precisely why I've liked the APD Original for so long. A unique frame from the b-line. But just to play devil's advocate for a second, ever considered the Juice 100? For me it's (as has been said before) like a cross between the APD and PD.

It hits a similarish basic topspin g/stroke to the Aero (okay, maybe I slightly prefer the APD here, but I prefer the APD to everything in this very particular regard!) - I'd say the J hits more of a stinging ball, whereas the APD hits more of a booming blasting ball. Whatever. For trajectory/loop I find it marginally APD>J100>with PD a way behind these 2. I do think J has better control and accuracy, plus the spin is at least equal to APD. In terms specifically of responsiveness, I find it also better than the Aeropro, equal to PD (this is one area I really thought the PD 2012 shone) - coming in off the backcourt a bit, hitting more angles, nailing winners I'd say Juice/PD tied, APD a bit behind.

It serves, for me, more effectively than the APD (never could quite find my groove with the APD in this dept), and is close up there with the PD (a frame I rank just about at the top for serving). Still formulating serve impressions. Great pop and action.

In my recent dallying with the PD 2012, I found it still to be ultimately a bit jarring and uncomfortable. The Juice 100 however, seems just a bit softer, a bit plusher, the vibes are filtered out a bit better. I found the PD to be to be very solid, a very solid hammer of a frame. But that undoubted solidness doesn't take away from the jarring impact. Feel-wise then, J is softer than the PD, a tad stiffer than my APD Originals. There's also a certain crisp quality that I'm liking more and more. Yes, it's still a tweener absolutely, but the Juice has a bit more of that feeling of 'body' or support or whatever, as with, say, a PST - I think the PWS has something to do with this perception.

Another thing (PED mentioned this recently): the J100 swings very, very fast, faster than the APD Original. It really tears into the ball. I felt the PD also swung mega-quick. Obviously SW/static weight being lowish on these racs has a lot of bearing.

It is also (especially with one of the lead set ups I was looking at last week) surprisingly good for more all court, up in the air stuff - and I'm talking to the extent a reg. hitting partner commented on Friday during a particular drill, he'd never seen me get back so many volleys before... FWIW I've also noted a better conversion rate re droppers with the J (I say "FWIW" as all court isn't really my game).

Anyhow, you get the picture. As was said to me for ages by TTers, if you like the APD, it's seriously worth consideing the J100.

Ross, i'm really not a rackaholic in the true sense of the word because while i have lots of sticks, the majority of them are the older classics and not the latest releases. i dabbled w/ the APDC a while ago but let it go because it didn't feel like any of the old school sticks and quite honestly at the time, it didn't do anything more for my game and after hitting w/ alot of JGads' various demo sticks, none of which did anything more for my game, i had concluded that the indian was more important than the bow & arrows. sure some sticks did one thing or another better than the other sticks, but at the end of the day, it was generally a compromise. i had to give up something to get something. it wasn't until the new APD GT where i can see a noticeable difference in the performance pretty much across the board at the cost of some comfort that i'm now reconsidering my position. and if it wasn't for JGads' TGK, i would not even be mulling over the new APD GT. he just hits such a beastly ball w/ his godly stick that takes me out of my comfort zone with every stick except for the new APD GT. so to answer your question in a long, roundabout way, no, i have never considered the J100 and after checking the specs and seeing the stiffness rating of 72 :shock:, i don't think this stick is gonna agree w/ my shoulder or wrist.

So much of what you day MD is precisely why I've liked the APD Original for so long. A unique frame from the b-line. But just to play devil's advocate for a second, ever considered the Juice 100? For me it's (as has been said before) like a cross between the APD and PD.

It hits a similarish basic topspin g/stroke to the Aero (okay, maybe I slightly prefer the APD here, but I prefer the APD to everything in this very particular regard!) - I'd say the J hits more of a stinging ball, whereas the APD hits more of a booming blasting ball. Whatever. For trajectory/loop I find it marginally APD>J100>with PD a way behind these 2. I do think J has better control and accuracy, plus the spin is at least equal to APD. In terms specifically of responsiveness, I find it also better than the Aeropro, equal to PD (this is one area I really thought the PD 2012 shone) - coming in off the backcourt a bit, hitting more angles, nailing winners I'd say Juice/PD tied, APD a bit behind.

It serves, for me, more effectively than the APD (never could quite find my groove with the APD in this dept), and is close up there with the PD (a frame I rank just about at the top for serving). Still formulating serve impressions. Great pop and action.

In my recent dallying with the PD 2012, I found it still to be ultimately a bit jarring and uncomfortable. The Juice 100 however, seems just a bit softer, a bit plusher, the vibes are filtered out a bit better. I found the PD to be to be very solid, a very solid hammer of a frame. But that undoubted solidness doesn't take away from the jarring impact. Feel-wise then, J is softer than the PD, a tad stiffer than my APD Originals. There's also a certain crisp quality that I'm liking more and more. Yes, it's still a tweener absolutely, but the Juice has a bit more of that feeling of 'body' or support or whatever, as with, say, a PST - I think the PWS has something to do with this perception.

Another thing (PED mentioned this recently): the J100 swings very, very fast, faster than the APD Original. It really tears into the ball. I felt the PD also swung mega-quick. Obviously SW/static weight being lowish on these racs has a lot of bearing.

It is also (especially with one of the lead set ups I was looking at last week) surprisingly good for more all court, up in the air stuff - and I'm talking to the extent a reg. hitting partner commented on Friday during a particular drill, he'd never seen me get back so many volleys before... FWIW I've also noted a better conversion rate re droppers with the J (I say "FWIW" as all court isn't really my game).

Anyhow, you get the picture. As was said to me for ages by TTers, if you like the APD, it's seriously worth consideing the J100.

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So the J100 did the impossible and topped your APD? Thats awesome. I'm due for a change soon as well. APDGT plays great at the b-line but I've just never felt so disconnected at the net. PDR, 100s, & J100 are still the ones to beat, now I just have to check out the 99s, Extreme 2.0 Pro, and I guess the old BLX Blade & APD2012. I wonder if a new J100 is around the corner.

Ross, do you know any tricky players who hit shots like skidding slices, varying spin and depth, etc., that throw off your timing, the kind of player that you have to be at your best in terms of control to play well against? That's always been a good self-test for me when considering a racket switch.

Ross....glad to hear you so high on the Juice. I am thinking of making it my regular racquet for the time being. I totally agree with everything you said regarding the stiffness vs the PD12. The Juice is a very versatile racquet that can be used from the baseline or all court. Now I just need to dial in my string setup and lead mod. I am preferring 2 g's at 12' at the moment, since it adds some much needed head weighting. I also replaced that super firm hybrid grip it comes with and that helped soften things up too. Maybe we should start a Juice owners club thread?

I will be hitting with the apd this week as i am sure it will come in. That being said i am very similar to gads as i find the open patterns can be too loopy and while that in itself can kill 4.0 and under players, it just robs me of time against higher level guys.

A lot of the stuff mad dog is finding, i experience with the blade. I think it boils down to weight and power. Of course i will find out soon for myself. I have always loved the apd, but this is a racquet that always bugs my arm after a while and lacks the laser control and boom on serve that i like.

PP, yeah, Gads and i were talking about how my stroke is flatter than his so sticks that tend to be loopy for him are ok for me. i can hit w/ heavy spin or flatten it out w/ the apd and get surprisingly good control from it which is unusual with a racquet this powerful. but i may ultimately be unable to use the apd because my shoulder is pretty sore this morning.

I have to say, the specs on the new APD are right in my wheelhouse.
11.3 oz and sw of 325ish is perfect for me. I just always HATED the look of those APD's!. Plus I'm not a huge Rafa fan either. I guess I could always spray paint it matte black?

PP, yeah, Gads and i were talking about how my stroke is flatter than his so sticks that tend to be loopy for him are ok for me. i can hit w/ heavy spin or flatten it out w/ the apd and get surprisingly good control from it which is unusual with a racquet this powerful. but i may ultimately be unable to use the apd because my shoulder is pretty sore this morning.

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My wrist became sore after using the APD without a damp on that first hit, and then last night i mostly stayed away from the APD largely because the wrist was still feeling it and I thought it might be better to be safe (that said, I still hit with it, but not nearly as much as my tgk and always with a damp) ... And today my wrist feels totally fine. So.. Not conclusive that the APD was the culprit (wrist also could have been tweaked bc that first hit was simply my first tennis outing in awhile), but it's certainly a possibility since I first felt it with the APD in hand and something to keep in mind for anyone trying the APD. I'd be less worried, if not for the APD/PD's history of bothering some arms.

I have to say, the specs on the new APD are right in my wheelhouse.
11.3 oz and sw of 325ish is perfect for me. I just always HATED the look of those APD's!. Plus I'm not a huge Rafa fan either. I guess I could always spray paint it matte black?

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The juice is the same type of stick though, are you going to ride it out for a bit? I would personally.

Switched my left hand on the 2 hander to an eastern and suddenly i was driving the ball so much better. I need to investigate this further. Will try and film next time so i can see how it works. What grips do you folks use on your 2 handers? I was conti/sw, but i think the conti/eastern may suit the backhand i was taught a lot better.

The juice is the same type of stick though, are you going to ride it out for a bit? I would personally.

Switched my left hand on the 2 hander to an eastern and suddenly i was driving the ball so much better. I need to investigate this further. Will try and film next time so i can see how it works. What grips do you folks use on your 2 handers? I was conti/sw, but i think the conti/eastern may suit the backhand i was taught a lot better.

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Conti/eastern on my two-hander. I also hit a one-hander, but I need to stop doing this so much and just pick one or the other and focus on improving it because my backhand(s) is terrible, especially of late.

I have to say, the specs on the new APD are right in my wheelhouse.
11.3 oz and sw of 325ish is perfect for me. I just always HATED the look of those APD's!. Plus I'm not a huge Rafa fan either. I guess I could always spray paint it matte black?

The juice is the same type of stick though, are you going to ride it out for a bit? I would personally.

Switched my left hand on the 2 hander to an eastern and suddenly i was driving the ball so much better. I need to investigate this further. Will try and film next time so i can see how it works. What grips do you folks use on your 2 handers? I was conti/sw, but i think the conti/eastern may suit the backhand i was taught a lot better.

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I think I am going to stick with the Juice for awhile. I have been messing around with too many different sticks lately and I need to regain some familiarity and confidence with a regular racquet. I thought the Extreme MP 2.0 was going to stick, but for whatever reason, I was losing badly with it. The Juice seems to do everything I need it to, so I will stay with it for a while to get some consistency going.

I'm not crazy about the Juice graphics either, buts its "new and different" and not identifiable with one player, like the APD is with Rafa. I also don't like the look of the throat in the Aero's....not sure why?

Ok I may have been a little hasty in my dismissal of the Blade. Played again with it and I have to say it has started to win me over. I think the problem I had with it was largely string related. First time I strung it up with Mosquito bite-and results were so so. I could see PP's attraction to the frame but did not see any benefits that could take it beyond the Prestige. For the hell of it I then tried out a hybrid of Scorpion/OGSM feel was there but power was too much. So I decided to try Outlast as I know it is much more feel/playable poly at 54lbs. Wow what a difference the right set up can make. I now have the confidence to take a big rip at the ball and not worry about is sailing long, feel is right on the money. The added pop/forgivness from this stick gives me that little extra I need from time to time especially on the backhand side when I get tight and don't hit through the ball as I should. (all Prestige users know, this is were the prestige can really punish you if you don't have a nice fluid long stroke). I can't say this is a game changer yet but I am glad I didn't dismiss this stick too quickly.

Ok I may have been a little hasty in my dismissal of the Blade. Played again with it and I have to say it has started to win me over. I think the problem I had with it was largely string related. First time I strung it up with Mosquito bite-and results were so so. I could see PP's attraction to the frame but did not see any benefits that could take it beyond the Prestige. For the hell of it I then tried out a hybrid of Scorpion/OGSM feel was there but power was too much. So I decided to try Outlast as I know it is much more feel/playable poly at 54lbs. Wow what a difference the right set up can make. I now have the confidence to take a big rip at the ball and not worry about is sailing long, feel is right on the money. The added pop/forgivness from this stick gives me that little extra I need from time to time especially on the backhand side when I get tight and don't hit through the ball as I should. (all Prestige users know, this is were the prestige can really punish you if you don't have a nice fluid long stroke). I can't say this is a game changer yet but I am glad I didn't dismiss this stick too quickly.

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This. Strings have spurred a new passion with me right before i switched to the RDiS 200. I've tried poly, multi, and ssynthetics at various tensions, but finding myself always looking for more control and less power. I think it has EVERYTHING to do with grooving with a racket now.

Now I'm leaning towards the 95's again... They just fit my (wanna be) all court needs so well. Nice balance between power, feel, control, and specs. After I find a nice stick, it's gonna be string all over again lol...

Outlast eh?... I was considering checking a set of this out. Supposed to hybrid excellently re gut/poly. General impressions?...

Ray,

A resounding 'yes' to your question. I have indeed come up against tricksy types, players slicing and dicing, pulling me in, or testing my more all court game, etc. An improvement here for sure with the J over the APD. By some distance actually.

Murray,

All I can say about above post and how so much can be due to the string-job is... quoted for truth! Having been guilty of this before, that's one thing I wanted to do with recent tests of J, PD and APD, so taking your time to look at different strings is an essential fundamental, I agree.

^^ yeah, i like outlast, too. it's a a great all around that doesn't excel in any one area, but is very solid across the board. same w/ TF red code although red code seems to provide more pop and action on the ball.

FedK has been curiously quiet lately. Last we heard he was about to check out the new blade tour and then, nothing...

Is he silenty blading .. or is he actually Colin Kaepernick?

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Ah yes. The old Simon and Garfunkel line. How fondly I remember this from being a small kid and having my mum playing their tunes around the house... Bridge Over Troubled Handle... Wimbledon Bound... Aggie's Song... The Sound of Shreiking... poignant to recollect. I wish Fed peace as he silently blades.